Halloween has always belonged to heavy music, and this year Melbourne is getting a new tradition. FORGE FESTIVALmakes its debut on Saturday, October 31 at Richmond’s Leadbeater Hotel, bringing together a cross-section of Australia’s underground heavy scene for a one-day event built around community, atmosphere and the enduring power of live music.
Leading the inaugural lineup is the long-awaited return of Scar the Surface, who will perform their first live show in more than a decade. Since emerging in 2007, the Melbourne outfit established themselves as a formidable force within Australia’s metal scene through a series of acclaimed EPs and their debut album From The Shadows To The Fire. Their return to the stage is set to be one of the year’s most anticipated reunions for fans of Australian heavy music.
Joining them is a lineup that reflects the diversity of the local scene. Melbourne progressive metal outfit Transience bring their intricate songwriting and cinematic heaviness, while Bear the Mammoth continue to build a reputation for crushing riffs and expansive post-metal textures. Travelling from Adelaide, EKOSA add another dimension to the bill with their modern metal assault, while Binary Pulse inject industrial-leaning heaviness into the day’s proceedings.
Elsewhere, Rat Tomb promise their trademark blend of abrasive extremity and relentless energy, while Matahari round out the lineup, showcasing yet another facet of Australia’s ever-evolving heavy underground.
FORGE FESTIVAL is aiming to be more than simply another collection of bands. Halloween-themed production, immersive décor and prizes for the best dressed will transform The Leadbeater into an event space where live music and community are equally central to the experience.
FORGE FESTIVAL
Saturday October 31, 2026
The Leadbeater Hotel, Richmond
Featuring:
Scar the Surface (Long-Awaited Return to the Stage)
Transience
Bear the Mammoth
EKOSA
Binary Pulse
Rat Tomb
Matahari
Tickets: Early Bird $20, Presale $30, Door $40, available through Oztix.
